Australian Cattle Dog

Australian Cattle DogAustralian Cattle Dog

The Australian Cattle Dog and Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog were extremely important in the initial settlement of Australia as a colony. Stemming from a cross between the Australian Dingo and an assortment of British herding dogs, these two breeds were originally developed to muster and drive mobs of cattle from remote unfenced outback areas to the sale yards of Sydney. Whether called the 'Blue Heeler', the 'Queensland Heeler', 'the Australian Heeler' or simply 'Bluey', the Australian Cattle Dog and the Stumpy Tail Cattle dog are an iconic part of Australia's history.

History of the Australian Cattle Dog

Thomas Hall was born in Hawkesbury, NSW in 1808. He was one of the sons of  British free-settlers George and Mary Hall who had arrived from Northumbria in northern England six years earlier.

Australian Cattle Dog Australian Cattle Dog

Driven by the ambitions of his father, during the 1820s Thomas Hall oversaw a land grab of huge areas of land north of Sydney and oversaw the development of properties at "Dartbrook" and "Gundebri" in the upper Hunter Valley region of NSW. Here he set about producing a hornless variety of polled cattle with the ability to cope with hundreds of acres of unfenced dry terrain, covered with strange vegetation and local climate. The idea was to produce an Australian breed of cattle in acceptable numbers to provide the type of meat to accommodate the British lifestyle. By 1830s the Hall family had produced acceptable numbers of cattle to provide the type of meat to which the British were accustomed.

This required also producing a purpose-bred cattle dog that could muster herds of them and drive them long distances along designated stock routes in harsh Australian conditions to the Sydney sale yards. Interestingly, although Thomas kept breeding records of the cattle, records of developing the Australian Cattle Dog have never been found. This was probably because of the same bias that confronted the Henty brothers in Victoria where Dingos were obviously influential in developing the Kelpie.

With the failings of the British sheepdogs to cope with this job in mind, in the 1800s Thomas Hall began by importing dogs of  two types endemic to Northumbria close to the Border Region of England-Scotland where his family originated. These were:

1. The Welsh Grey (Blue) Herding Dog.

Welsh Grey (blue) Herding DogWelsh Grey (blue) Herding Dog

Welsh Grey Herding dogs existed throughout the north of England 350 years ago. This type of dog was influential in developing the blue and blue speckled markings commonly seen in today's Australian Cattle Dogs. A written history of the Welsh Grey (or blue merle) Herding dogs  which looked like the modern one pictured indicates they existed not only in Wales, but also throughout the northern parts of England 350 years ago. In his book, 'Good Men and True' Welsh Shepherd, Erwyd Howells indicates that this type of dog has genetic involvement with many modern herding breeds like the Australian Cattle Dog[5].

The earliest evidence of Welsh Herding dogs was in the Laws of Hywel Dda, or Howell the Good, King of South Wales. These Laws, written in 920 AD were based on unwritten Welsh legends which placed a value on the various types of dogs according to the job they were required to perform. These Laws stated that a herdsman's droving dog was the same value as an ox[1].

2. The 'Cur' dog described by Bewick in 1789

Cur Dog 1789Cur Dog 1789

With a long-distance drover's dog in mind, the second dog used in the development of the Australian Cattle Dog was a stark departure from the British sheep-working Shepherd's Dog. Cur or 'Coally' dogs were commonly used in driving cattle on long journeys to the slaughter houses. Consequently, these dogs had great strength as well the swiftness is required for that purpose.

Below is a description written in 1789 of the 'Cur' dog written by Thomas Bewick, a naturalist who from Northumbria. He wrote:

These are chiefly employed in driving cattle; in which way they are extremely useful. They are larger, stronger, and fiercer than the Shepherd's Dog; and their hair is smoother and shorter. They are mostly black and white colour; their ears are half-pricked; and many of them are whelped with short tails, which seem as if they had been cut: these are called Self-tailed Dogs.

They bite very keenly, and as they always make their attack at the heels, the cattle have no defence against them: in this way, they are more than a match for a Bull, which they quickly compel to run. Their sagacity is uncommonly great: they know their master's fields and are singularly attentive to the cattle. A good dog watches, goes his rounds, and if any strange cattle should happen to appear amongst the herd, although unbidden, he quickly flies at them and, with keen bites obliges them to depart[3].

How Dingos were Introduced

DingoDingo

Thomas Hall began introducing Dingos by capturing a few pairs of them which he kept in specially built kennels on his estate at 'Dartbrook'.Once the Dingos had adapted to living in captivity, he selectively bred them with Northumberland Drovers Dogs until the resultant cross breed dogs displayed the physical and working traits Thomas Hall required to work them in Australia's harsh climate[6]. This included the Dingos' instinct to creep up silently behind its prey before biting which proved useful when mustering mobs of cattle.

It is not known exactly how many cross breedings occurred when Thomas Hall created the Australian Cattle Dog. Certainly ruthless culling took place. Thomas Hall kept meticulous records of all his breeding just like he did when he developed the cattle. Sadly, upon his death, these Stud Books and all records of how he created our iconic Australian Cattle Dog were thrown down a disused well[2]. Obviously Thomas Hall was subject to the same bias that confronted the Henty brothers in Victoria

The Australian Cattle Dog becomes a Pure Breed

Australian Cattle Dog (1908)Australian Cattle Dog (1908)

By 1835 'Halls Heelers' had been developed[2]. Late in the 1800's, Kaleski wrote a breed description which was published in 1903 as the first Breed Standard but with no description of the tail. However, the main aim was to produce a dog suitable to work cattle in Australia's harsh conditions. Their success is reflected in today's Australian Cattle Dog.

Colour Change in Australian Cattle Dog and Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog Pups

Cattle Dog pups new bornCattle Dog pups new born

Both Cattle Dog and Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs are born white with just a small amount of colour on their ears as demonstrated in the picture of the litter of new born Cattle Dog pups. By three weeks, the colour begins to show through.

Cattle Dog pup by 3 months Cattle Dog pup by 3 months

By three months, the adult colouring is clearly visible. Apart from the length of their tails, these two breeds at first glance may look remarkably similar. After all, they are both around the same size. But when considering their overall build as well as the minor discrepancies in their coat and colour, it is important to realise how the breed type can alter once the gene pool has been split. Hence the comparison below.

Comparison between the Australian Cattle Dog and the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog

Australian Cattle Dog Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
General Appearance A strong compact, symmetrically built working dog, conveying the impression of great agility, strength and endurance. A well proportioned working dog, rather square in profile with a hard-bitten, rugged appearance, capable of long periods of arduous work.
Tail The tail should approximately reach the hock and carry a good brush. Set moderately low, at rest it should hang in a slight curve. During movement or excitement it may be raised, but not past a vertical line drawn through the root. The undocked tail is of a natural length not exceeding 10 centimetres (4 inches), Set on high but not carried much above the level of the back.

Australian Cattle DogAustralian Cattle Dog

Stumpy Tail Cattle DogStumpy Tail Cattle Dog
Colour

1. Blue, blue-mottled or blue speckled with or without black, blue or tan markings on the head but not desirable on the body. Tan undercoat is permissible providing it does not show through the blue outer coat.

2. Red speckle all over including a red undercoat with or without darker even red markings on the head but not on the body.

Blues may have tan markings in the normal back and tan coat pattern.

1. Blue Mottle or Blue Speckle with or without black markings on the head and body. Must have the same coloured undercoat.

2. Red Speckle with or without red markings on the head or body but without any blue showing through the undercoat or on the head.

Blues and Reds may NOT have tan markings in the normal black and tan coat pattern.
Size Dogs 46-51 cms (18-20 ins) at withers with bitches 43-48 cms (17-19 ins). Dogs 46-51 cms (18-20 ins) at withers with bitches 43-48 cms (17-19 ins).
Australian Cattle DogAustralian Cattle Dog Stumpy Tail Cattle DogStumpy Tail Cattle Dog
Skull

The skull is broad and slightly curved between the ears with muscular cheeks. It has a slight but definite stop.

The flat skull is broad between the ears, with muscular cheeks. It has a slight but definite stop.
Foreface The foreface is broad and well filled in under the eyes with a deep and powerful underjaw, tight lips and a black nose. The skull and muzzle have parallel head planes. The foreface is well filled up under the eyes with deep powerful jaws and a black nose.
Mouth Normal scissors bite with sound, strong teeth. Normal scissors bite with sound, strong teeth.
Eyes The oval shaped eyes should be of medium size, and dark brown in colour. The almond shaped eyes should be of moderate size, and dark brown in colour.
Ears The pricked, thick textured ears should be of moderate size, broad at the base and moderately pointed. They are set wide apart with the inside of the ear fairly well furnished with hair. The pricked, thick textured ears are moderately small, and almost pointed. They are set high on the skull yet well apart, with the inside the ear well furnished with hair.
Australian Cattle DogAustralian Cattle Dog Stumpy Tail Cattle DogStumpy Tail Cattle Dog
Neck Extremely strong and muscular, of medium length, free from dewlap. Exceptionally strong and muscular of medium length, free from dewlap.
Legs The forelegs should be straight and parallel when viewed from the front and have strong, round bone extending to the feet. But when viewed from the side, the pasterns show their flexibility by being angled slightly. The forelegs are well boned, muscular and straight when viewed from either the side or front, with very strong flexible pasterns.
Feet The feet should be round and the toes short and well arched. The pads are hard and deep, with short, strong nails. The feet should be round and strong with deep pads and strong, short dark nails.
Body

The length of body from the point of breast bone, in a straight line to the buttocks, is greater than the height at the withers, as 10 is to 9. The shoulders are strong, sloping, muscular and well angulated but not too close at the point of the withers. The chest is deep, muscular and moderately broad and the ribs well sprung. The back is level and strong with muscular strong loins and muscular, and a rather long and sloping croup. The hindquarters have long, broad and well developed thighs, well turned stifles and short strong hocks.


The length of the body from the point of the breast-bone to the buttocks should be equal to the height of the withers, ensuring the dog is square in profile. The shoulders are clean, muscular and sloping. The chest is moderately broad and ribs are well sprung. The back is level, broad and strong with deep and muscular loins. The hindquarters are broad, powerful and muscular, with well developed thighs, moderately turned stifles and short hocks.
Australian Cattle DogAustralian Cattle Dog Stumpy Tail Cattle DogStumpy Tail Cattle Dog
Gait The tireless action is sound, free and supple and capable of moving quickly and suddenly with the powerful thrust of the hindquarters. The shoulders and forelegs should be in unison but when the dog stops it should stand four square. The tireless movement is sound, true, free and supple, capable of moving quickly and suddenly. The shoulders and forelegs should be in unison with powerful thrust of the hindquarters.
Coat The double coat has a close rain-resisting outer-coat and a short, dense close undercoat. The coat is longer and thicker along the neck and behind the legs and on the breeching. As an average, the hairs on the body should be from 2.5 to 4 cms (approx. 1-1.5 ins) in length. The double coat has an outer coat that is moderately short, straight, dense with a medium harsh texture. The undercoat is short, dense and soft. The coat around the neck is longer, forming mild ruff. The hair on the head, legs and feet, is short.

References and Further Reading

[1] Robert Kaleski, 'Australian Barkers and Biters' Published by 'The Endeavour Press' 252 George St Sydney NSW Australia 1914 'The Australian Cattle Dog' Page 78 - 81

[2] Noreen L Clarke 'A Dog Called Blue' Published by Writelight Pty Ltd for Noreen L Clarke PO Box 48 Wallacia NSW 2745 Australia Chapter 2 'The Hall's Heeler' page 11

[2a] Ibid., B M Merchant Chapter 11 'The Redevelopment of the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog' Page 123

[3] Bewick,Thomas, (1789) 'The History of Quadrupeds' printed by Edw.Walker for T. Bewick, and son; Longman and Co. London; and Wilson and Sons, York. First Published 1789, 329 - 330.

[4] Cheryl Ann Edwards 'Australian Cattle Dogs Old Timers' self published IBSN 0 646 208136 The Australian Cattle Dog by Robert Kaleski Page 10

[5] Michael Pearson & Jane Lennon, 'Pastoral Australia' Fortunes, Failures and Hard Yakka' A Historical Overview Published by CSIRO Publishing 2010 Chapter 1 Genesis 1788 - 1830 Page 4

[6] Eric Rolls 'A Million Wild Acres, 200 years of Man and the Australian Forest' Published by Thomas Nelson (Australia) 1981, Chapter 3 'The Squatters - the Rules Ignored' Page 66

[7] Frances Sefton, 'Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs - They are on the Way Back' Editor 'National Dog Magazine' Page 5

[7a] Ibid.,(continued from Page 3) Page 70


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